Muskegon chamber to celebrate start of summer tourist season at May 31 breakfast

MUSKEGON, MI – Memorial Day weekend is the traditional start of the summer tourism season in the Muskegon area and the business community has a unique way to celebrate that kickoff this year.

Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce

The Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce is having its May Business for Breakfast event aboard the USS LST 393 at the Mart Dock, 560 Mart St., on Muskegon Lake. The breakfast is Friday, May 31 from 7:30 to 9 a.m.

Chamber members and interested guests will be able to experience one of Muskegon’s historic military ships along with getting the latest update on both Michigan's and Muskegon County's tourism industry.

Speaking at the business breakfast will be Dave Lorenz, public and industry relations manager at Travel Michigan, and Bob Lukens, community development director for Muskegon County and head of the Muskegon County Convention & Visitors Bureau. Lorenz is a longtime Norton Shores resident and former radio broadcaster in Muskegon and Grand Haven, while Lukens came to Muskegon two years ago from the south Chicago tourism market.

Tourism has continued to be a strong component of the Muskegon County economy as well. The county is in the top 20 of all counties in Michigan in terms of tourism revenues and has the 10th most popular attraction with Muskegon State Park with just under 1 million visitors a year, according to Bridge Magazine.

The LST 393 is a historic World War II transport ship that has been preserved and displayed in Muskegon.Chronicle file photo

The chamber business breakfast series is usually held across Shoreline Drive in the Holiday Inn Muskegon Harbor. But the May event will give the business community an opportunity to see one of Muskegon’s growing attractions as the USS LST 393 Preservation Association will show off all of its hard work in restoring the World War II transport ship that participated in the D-Day invasion of France.

Networking for the business breakfast begins at 7 a.m. and the program at 7:30 a.m. The cost is $16 for chamber members and $26 for non-members.

Reservations are required and can be made through the chamber’s website at www.muskegon.org or for more information contact the chamber at (231) 722-3751. The breakfast is sponsored by GoodTemps Temporary Staffing Services.